Michigan

The average price for regular, unleaded fuel statewide and in the greater Muskegon, Holland and Grand Rapids region on Monday was $3.96 per gallon, or 2 cents cheaper than last week's recorded local average.
(AP File Photo)

MUSKEGON, MI – Fuel prices in the Muskegon area have jumped again, and this time analysts say political conflicts overseas have played a larger role in the trend.

The average price for regular, unleaded fuel statewide and in the greater Muskegon, Holland and Grand Rapids region on Monday, June 16 was $3.96 per gallon, or 2 cents cheaper than last week's recorded local average.

Last year at this time, Muskegon-area motorists were paying about $3.98 per gallon.

AAA noted that several Midwestern and West Coast states were among the highest in the nation on Monday. Prices in those states ranged from $3.86 to $4.35, according to the agency's latest figures.

The agency also said Michigan had the highest fuel-price increase of 22 cents and up, out of the top three states with month-to-month double-digit increases. The other states are Indiana and Wisconsin.

The national average remains significantly lower at $3.66 per gallon.

The good news is that fuel prices have begun to decline, according to user-submitted reports on GasBuddy.com.

The agency attributed the conflicts in Iraq, Libya and Ukraine and its accompanying impact on global crude prices for the recent gas prices.

GasBuddy.com analyst and blogger Patrick DeHaan also cited the conflicts in an article last week, saying that authorities were concerned about Iraq's barrels of crude oil, whose shipments could be halted. The drop in supply could trigger higher prices, DeHaan said.

In the city of Muskegon, fuel consumers were paying between $3.86 and $3.99 per gallon of fuel mid-Monday afternoon, according to GasBuddy.com reports. Farther north, in Hart and Whitehall, costs were about the same and ranged from $3.87 to $3.99.

Prices in Grand Haven were about 10 to 20 cents cheaper. User-submitted reports suggested that motorists in the North Ottawa County city were paying between $3.77 and $3.89 per gallon.